MALLORYTOWN – Front of Yonge Township is installing security cameras in the village’s Recreation Park because of repeated incidents of vandalism.

Mayor Roger Haley said his council reluctantly decided to increase security during its meeting this week.

“It’s unfortunate, you don’t want to do that but we can’t have it destroyed every time you turn around,” Haley said.

The final straw was last week when vandals took an axe to the park’s new washrooms that recently were opened to serve residents who use the two ball fields, tennis courts, soccer field and play structure.

Aside from the axe marks, there were dents in doors and graffiti was scrawled on the building. The vandals also took their axe to some trees in the park, he said.

The vandalism was just the latest in sporadic incidents at the park over the years but it was more alarming because of the municipality’s $220,000 investment in the washrooms, which include an attached covered picnic area, and the outdoor rink.

“We’ve got to put a stop to this before it goes too far,” the mayor said. “You can’t put that much money into something to see it destroyed.”

Most of the money came from a $150,000 Trillium Foundation grant, which was a big deal to the small municipality of less than 3,000 residents.

Haley said the damage was even more galling because construction of the building was a true community effort.

Al Hunt Construction donated free labour for the building and local suppliers donated material and plumbing supplies, Haley said. Even the doors that were damaged had been donated.

The security cameras will add to the township’s costs for the project, he added.

Haley said he is troubled by the idea of security cameras because of privacy concerns. Families having fun in a park shouldn’t be subject to video surveillance, he said.

“It’s pretty sad when you have to do that,” said Haley, adding the township had little choice.